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Mwana; Libation Vessel
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: June 2023
Artist: Sean Dendere
Dimensions:
160 × 120 × 120 mm (16 × 12 × 12 cm)
Medium: PLA, Maize Meal/Hupfu (texture) & spray paint
Object number: PR.2023.1166.CC
DescriptionPrototype libation vessel. Description from the designer: "Mwana; Libation Vessel": a fusion of symbolism, material culture and Shona spirituality. This Vessel pays homage to the Shona, the Bantu peoples' sacred rituals and the greater African/Caribbean diaspora, prompting a dialogue with my ancestors.
Within my family, we have always incorporated traditional Shona spirituality; Mwari, my mother specifically, always reminded me to pour libations, and her father was very insistent that you pour libations at the beginning of parties and funerals to pay respects to our ancestors. For me, designing and making this Libation Vessel was very therapeutic as I had to employ an auto-ethnographic methodology to orally extract the wealth of knowledge within my family and kinfolk. I named the Vessel 'Mwana' because I want to view a Baby through a cyclical lens. The Baby has been here before in another lifetime, and the Baby is actually the ancestor in a new life form because energy/life can only be transferred and never destroyed.
The Vessel features a spherical base that intentionally employs instability and imbalance. This design feature symbolises the pouring gesture during the Ritual of Libation. The lid of the Vessel is made from Rammed Earth collected from my local area of Islington, inspired by bioregionalism and localism whilst honouring African material culture and indigenous building practises. The body of the vessel will be made from Stoneware. The wide protruding brim of the vessel implies sacrality because it's too big to drink out of; through this detail, I am implying it is not to drink out of, but it's rather a sacred pouring vessel for the ancestors.
Within my family, we have always incorporated traditional Shona spirituality; Mwari, my mother specifically, always reminded me to pour libations, and her father was very insistent that you pour libations at the beginning of parties and funerals to pay respects to our ancestors. For me, designing and making this Libation Vessel was very therapeutic as I had to employ an auto-ethnographic methodology to orally extract the wealth of knowledge within my family and kinfolk. I named the Vessel 'Mwana' because I want to view a Baby through a cyclical lens. The Baby has been here before in another lifetime, and the Baby is actually the ancestor in a new life form because energy/life can only be transferred and never destroyed.
The Vessel features a spherical base that intentionally employs instability and imbalance. This design feature symbolises the pouring gesture during the Ritual of Libation. The lid of the Vessel is made from Rammed Earth collected from my local area of Islington, inspired by bioregionalism and localism whilst honouring African material culture and indigenous building practises. The body of the vessel will be made from Stoneware. The wide protruding brim of the vessel implies sacrality because it's too big to drink out of; through this detail, I am implying it is not to drink out of, but it's rather a sacred pouring vessel for the ancestors.